Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that Nigeria could head into the 2027 general elections amid a repressive climate, as ongoing crackdowns on dissent jeopardize free and fair polls.
Atiku issued the warning on Monday while responding to the arrest of Abubakar Salim Musa, a young Nigerian whose detention Amnesty International Nigeria highlighted on its X account (@AmnestyNigeria) Sunday evening.
In a statement, Atiku accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of turning to intimidation and arrests to stifle criticism, rather than tackling governance shortcomings.
“This case starkly illustrates the repressive streak of the Tinubu administration, which bares its fangs against dissent—be it through protests or online posts,” Atiku said. He noted Musa’s “only offense” was legitimate criticism of Nigeria’s worsening security, especially in the North.
Citing Amnesty, Atiku dismissed the charges against Musa as baseless, part of a pattern misusing state institutions to silence opposition. “Instead of addressing these concerns, the government arrested him on bogus charges and a sham trial,” he added.
Atiku highlighted similar fates for journalists, schoolchildren, entertainers, and NYSC members targeted by police for criticizing the president or his family. He warned this erodes democracy’s core—human rights and free expression—crippling the opposition and public ahead of 2027.
He demanded Musa’s immediate, unconditional release, along with all others detained for exercising rights, and urged the international community to press the Tinubu regime to end these violations.
